Meet the Dublin brand partnering with SEP for a range of Keffiyeh by Palestinian artists
Dublin-based homewares brand Tomorrows collaborate with skilled artisans from across the globe to create a curated selection of handmade, sustainable pieces. Most recently, they partnered up with SEP to present a range of Keffiyeh that quickly sold out.
My name is Heather Barnes and I founded Tomorrows after six years of working with the UN, where my role focused on supporting small-scale producers and designers. Throughout my time there I was introduced to skilled artisans, often in marginalised communities. I was blown away by the creativity and talent I saw, and it motivated me to provide them with a platform to share their crafts and talent with the world. The result is a thoughtfully designed, sustainably produced collection of fashion and homewares that celebrates traditional craftsmanship and ensures fair wages.
Our philosophy is Good Design For Better Tomorrows. We want to show people that we can create positive change through beautiful objects. Our goal is for people to become more mindful about the things they are purchasing and the story behind an item.
As soon as I became involved in the world of artisan craftsmanship I was inspired to establish a business in this world. I work with so many talented artists and having the opportunity to connect with them and their craft is an honour.
We have a wide selection of fashion and homeware, ranging from hand-embroidered cashmere scarves and hand-crafted linen shirts to tumblers made of recycled glass and handwoven Christmas tree baubles.
We partnered with SEP, which is an organisation that works with Palestinian artists who are living in and around the Jerash refugee camp in Jordan for a range of cashmere Keffiyehs and cotton scarves. The range is hand-embroidered and celebrates Palestinian craft and heritage whilst providing a stable source of income for those living in difficult conditions.
The logistics
When starting out, I intentionally decided to build slowly and not take on too much risk. To date we have been bootstrapping and gathering our results, which excitingly, are starting to show.
I have an amazing mentor who told me that starting a business is going to take twice as long as you think, cost twice as much money as you think, and will be twice as hard as you think! It has helped me a lot in managing my expectations of the business and myself.
My most useful learning so far is that you can get things done a lot faster over the phone! I’m working in a few languages, with lots of different cultures, and things can get so easily lost over email. I’m calling for everything these days – it’s great for relationship building and you can really get a lot more done!
The brands to know
On my current wishlist is a pair of our new CALLA Babouches Shoes – made in Morocco using vintage berber rugs. Outside of our own collection, my dream handbag is from Dragon Diffusion, handcrafted by artisans in India.
I love following @guzangs who documents a world of African fashion, art and design so beautifully, and @walesbonner and @bode for their impeccable and inspiring creative direction. Stable of Ireland and Jennifer Slattery are two firm favourites on the Irish scene for their contemporary take on Irish textile heritage.
My best fashion purchase has to be my Suzani coat from Zazi Vintage, which was made by women in Afghanistan. It’s lined with sheepskin and incredibly warm, and totally makes an outfit. I made the fatal error of bringing this to the dry cleaner recently and it’s not been the same since, I am desperately trying to bring it back to its former self.
The legacy
My proudest moment to date happened a few weeks ago, when we received a bit of attention and sold out of our SEP Keffiyehs. It was really exciting to contact the supplier and re-order, knowing the impact that the production of these scarves has for the makers.
I want my brand to be remembered for having a positive impact. The artisans we partner with want orders, not aid, and the goal is that through Tomorrows they can have a long-term sustainable income. When people wear or look at the Tomorrows pieces in their home I want them to remember that they were part of that positive impact.
I’d love to see one of our SEP scarves worn by Mary Robinson. I’ve long been inspired by her advocacy for women and climate justice and I think it would be a perfect match. For interiors, I would love to see how a favourite interior designer, Beata Heuman, would style our pieces in her home. I love how she introduces so many artforms and styles to her work.
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